Kazakh authorities have detained prominent actor and film director Tunghyshbai Zhamanqulov on suspicion of embezzlement, shortly after accusing a minister of corruption.
The Interior Ministry says Zhamanqulov was detained on November 2 on suspicion of embezzling some 70 million tenges ($205,000) allocated for shooting a movie.
Zhamanqulov's detention came weeks after he publicly alleged that Culture Minister Arystanbek Mukhamediuly was involved in corruption activities.
He also supported several young women who had accused Mukhamediuly of sexual harassment -- an allegation rejected by the minister.
Zhamanqulov, 68, starred in 33 movies and became well known by playing a main character in the popular satire show Tamasha in the 1970s.